Recipe - Backpacking Simple Food Ideas



Here are very, very simple ideas for dehydrated and lightweight foods.

1) Any packaged dinner mix from the grocery and packed in ziploc baggies

ie, Macaroni & Cheese, RiceaRoni, Broccoli and Cheese, etc There are tons
of these things available today. If they call for milk, then the boys can
carry powdered milk in baggies. Margarine will travel well, and since they
will be working hard, the extra fat might be desireable.

2) Instant oatmeal and instant grits and bagels are great for breakfast.
Again, powdered milk can be used with these. Get some of the new Fantastic
Foods hot cereal mixesthey are warm and filling.

3) Dehydrated vegetables and full meals can be found in camping stores. Add
dried peas to a box of mac & cheese, for instance

4) Try Ramen noodle soups, or any of those "soup in a cup"s (that can be
packaged in baggies so they take up less room).

5) Dehydrated bean flakes that mix up almost instantly with water are
available in HFS. Mix these with some cooked minute rice and put in a
tortilla. Yum! Flavor them with onion, garlic, cumin powders.

6) Cheese backpacks well. Again, the fat may not be so bad if they are
hiking all day. And if it's cold, then the fat is almost necessary to help
them stay warm. (You need a lot more calories when it's cold.) Add a hunk
to any soup, pasta, rice, or dehydrated veggies you're cooking.

7) Pasta, pasta, pasta. Top it with sauces made from the dry package mixes.
A lot of these are tasty. High in sodium and preservatives sometimes, but
for a couple of meals they won't hurt you.

8) Instant mashed potatoes that can be mixed with the powdered milk or
water only. Make up an instant gravy to go top. (I *really* like the Hain's
brown gravy mix and it's fatfree and all natural.)

9) Dried fruit can be cooked in some water and put on top of a piece of
angel food cake for dessert. (Hey, the cake might get crushed a little, but
it is lightweight!) Add some cinnamon and Tang (in lieu of orange juice)
and you approximate a Cooking Light recipe.

10) The dry veggie burger mixes would make a great meal. Most of them make
up with water only and many are quite tasty.

11) Bulgar and couscous cook up in only a few minutes with boiling water.

12) There are lots of dried meats and fish available, but I've never used
them

As you can see, when we camp, I like to cook things that require water
only. No fancy cooking and then tough clean up for me! I find that when I'm
"on the trail", ALL foods taste wonderful because I'm always so hungry. I
eat things when hiking that I'd never, ever eat at home. I bought hash
potatoes and green pepper breakfast package from Sam's freezer and fried in
black skillet for first morning quick and smells and taste good.

Posted to MMRecipes Digest V4 #148 by Simps c.simpson@worldnet.att.net
on May 28, 1997